RIVERSIDE THEATRES ADVISORY BOARD EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST 1. The City of Parramatta Council invites Expressions of Interest from members of the Parramatta and greater Sydney community to be considered for membership of the Seventh Riverside Advisory Board. 2. People submitting an Expression of Interest may have an interest or experience in arts and culture and particularly the performing arts and/or have arts management, financial, marketing, education or legal expertise. Council is looking for community leaders who can energetically commit themselves to assisting Riverside in taking centre stage in Sydney s Central City, Parramatta. 3. Expressions of Interest should set out i. Biographical information about the applicant; Why and how the applicant wishes to contribute to the development of arts and culture in Parramatta as the Central City of Sydney and the regional focus of western Sydney; How the applicant would contribute to the development and future success of Riverside. 4. Expressions of interest should be submitted by mail or email by 5.00pm Friday 5 May, 2017 marked to the attention of the Director, Riverside Theatres, PO Box 3636, Parramatta, NSW 2124. Email enquiries can be sent care of: Catherine Swallow, Program Coordinator (Assisting the Director) cswallow_riverside@cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au CONSULTATION AND TIMING 5. The term of the Sixth Riverside Advisory Board will conclude at the next election for the City of Parramatta Council in September 2017. 6. The proposed timetable for the submission of expressions of interest and appointment of the members of the Seventh Riverside Advisory Board is as follows: i. Advertising for Expressions of Interest Commences From Tuesday 18 April 2017 Expressions of Interest Close Friday 5 May 2017 Interviewing of Shortlisted Applicants iv. Council Appoints Members of the Seventh Advisory Board v. First meeting of the Seventh Riverside Advisory Board From Wednesday10 May Monday 13 June 2017 Provisionally 12 October 2017
RIVERSIDE THEATRES ADVISORY BOARD TERMS OF REFERENCE Primary Purpose 1. The Committee consists of a small strategic Board i. that makes recommendations to Council in setting the strategic direction for the successful operation of Riverside Theatres; iv. that provides Council with strategic advice on desirable future outcomes for Riverside Theatres; that acts as a sounding board for Riverside Theatres staff on operational, programming and marketing matters; and that advocates for Riverside Theatres as the primary performing arts centre in western Sydney. Roles and Responsibilities 2. The Board provides Riverside Theatres management and Council with advice on: i. engagement of the community in the activities of the Theatres; iv. the Theatres strategic and business plans; the raising of external funds from state and federal governments and the private sector; the potential development of Riverside Theatres and the surrounding precinct to maximise opportunities for the performing arts and associated activities in Parramatta; Membership v. the Theatres annual program of activities including community and professional usage. 3. Membership of the Advisory Board and shall include: i. Councillors to be appointed by Council; iv. Chief Executive Officer of City of Parramatta or nominee Two (2) members with performing or general arts expertise Four (4) members with management, financial, legal or marketing expertise v. Four (4) community representatives Page 2
4. Membership of the Advisory Board shall be for the period of each elected Council and is unpaid and voluntary. 5. Councillor membership of the Board shall be for the period of each elected Council. 6. The Chair is elected by the Board and shall not be a Councillor or Council staff member. 7. Expressions of Interest for membership of the Board will be sought through public advertisement. 8. Council may review the membership of the Advisory Committee from time to time, (eg appoint additional members or fill casual vacancies). 9. The Theatre s Director is the Board s Executive Officer. Frequency of Meetings 10. The Advisory Board shall meet bi-monthly or at other times as the Board determines. Page 3
RIVERSIDE THEATRES AND ADVISORY BOARD INFORMATION SHEET BACKGROUND INFORMATION : THE ADVISORY BOARD 1. In 2001, Parramatta City Council resolved to appoint a section 355 Advisory Board to Riverside Theatres that would meet regularly to review the Theatres performance and provide advice to Council on strategic directions. 2. The Sixth Advisory Board was appointed by Council in December 2013. 3. The Sixth Advisory Board immediately prior to the proclamation of the City of Parramatta Council on 12 May 2016, comprised the following members: Clr Bob Dwyer Clr Glenn Elmore Mr Richard Evans Ms Rebecca Grasso (representing the CEO) Ms Rhonda Hawkins Clr Scott Lloyd Mr Luke Mackey Ms Julianne May Mr Warrick Mclean Ms Keiasha Naidoo Ms Amanda Rose Mr Christopher Tooher Clr Andrew Wilson Ms Jane Witter (Chair) 4. On 11 July 2016, t h e City of Parramatta Council resolved that Advisory Committees be continued with their existing membership extended until September 2017 and that the Administrator or delegate/s join the Committee in lieu of former Councillor members subject to it being noted that, in relation to the Riverside Advisory Board, Council s Director of Marketing and City Identity would continue on the Board with the Administrator to appoint one or two delegates. 5. On 12 September 2016 Council resolved that Bob Dwyer and Scott Lloyd be appointed the Administrator s delegates to the Riverside Advisory Board. 6. Ms Amanda Rose resigned from the Advisory Board on 31 October, 2016. Page 4
BACKGROUND INFORMATION : RIVERSIDE THEATRES 1. Riverside Theatres opened in February 1988 as part of Australia s Bicentenary. It will celebrate its 30 th Anniversary in 2018. 2. As an outcome of its 2010-14 Strategic Plan, a new Master Plan was unveiled at the 25 th Anniversary in 2013 for the future redevelopment of the Theatres as part of a new Parramatta entertainment and recreation precinct. In addition a new theatre company was established in 2015, the National Theatre of Parramatta. Its 2017-2021 Strategy is in draft and is expected to be endorsed by Council in the coming months. 3. Riverside Theatres is a business unit of City of Parramatta Council within the Marketing and City Identity Directorate. It has an annual expenditure budget of $6.5 million (2016/17). Attendances total 200,000 per annum with around 1,400 performances and events each year. 4. Riverside Theatres has a full-time staff of 21 people supplemented by casual front of house, box office, marketing, technical and administration staff. 5. Riverside Theatres comprises four performance venues the larger Riverside Theatre (761 seats), Lennox Theatre (up to 250 seats), Raffertys Theatre (up to 115 seats) and the covered Courtyard (accommodating up to 500 people). In addition Riverside manages Studio 404, a rehearsal space with four fully equipped studios which are used by professional and community performance groups. 6. The Riverside Theatres venue is available for hire for performances, events, exhibitions and functions. It is used extensively by community, cultural and business organisations. 7. Riverside Theatres also presents an annual professional performance program including theatre, dance and opera seasons, a music season incorporating classical music, jazz, cabaret and world music, an annual education/schools program comprising performances, workshops and masterclasses for schools. 8. Most recently Riverside Theatres launched National Theatre of Parramatta in late 2105. NT of P is a producing company putting the nation on stage that reflects today s Australia by engaging the imagination and creativity of western Sydney and beyond with a mandate towards capacity building through mentorships, opportunities and education. Since April 2016 it has presented five productions including Swallow, Stolen, The Cartographer s Curse, Who Speaks for Me? and Hakawati. 9. Prior to the formation of NTofP, Riverside Productions had commissioned and produced productions including Simply Opera (Carmen and Madam Butterfly, Who Killed Mario Lanza?), All the Blood and all the Water, Shakespeare s R&J, Macquarie, Rainbow s End, RU4Me and Shellshock, co-productions with other performing arts organisations (eg Hamlet and King Lear with Studio Co, Boy Overboard with the Australian Theatre for Young People, Ruby Moon with Sydney Theatre Co, Brilliant Monkey with Pork Chop Productions, The Modern International Dead with Griffin Theatre Co and Codgers with Steady Lads). It produced new works for the Sydney Festival (Kushti Bok, Stone Sleeper, Slamming, Into) and family and education programs (The Pied Piper). It toured shows throughout Australia (The Goodies and The Aunty Jack Show 'n Tell, Rainbow s End and RU4Me) as well as introducing new play readings and workshop programs such as Breakout and sponsoring an independent theatre season, True West. For seven years it presented the Big Laugh Comedy Festival. 10. In more recent years Riverside has developed a strong cinema program with Raffertys Theatre being fully equipped with DCP capability. Program highlights have included Live Theatre on Screen, Exhibition on Screen, independent documentary and feature Page 5
films, film festivals such as Arab Film Festival, Indie Gems, Alliance Francaise French Film Festival and the Mardi Gras Film Festival. 11. Riverside produces, hosts and supports a range of Festivals (Sydney Festival, Parramasala, SPOT ON Family Festival, Sydney Writers Festival, Sydney Music Festival and the Sydney Sacred Music Festival) and Exhibitions including Behind the Lines, the Best of the Year s Political Cartoons. 12. For many years Riverside has conducted regular weekly Workshops in the Arts for People with Disabilities under the banner of Beyond the Square. With a group of Parramatta businesses, Riverside co-ordinates an annual fundraising lunch for Beyond the Square, Get on Stage, which raises funds to support various access and disability initiatives. 13. Riverside is a long-standing key cultural asset of Parramatta. Its diverse program contributes to the cultural identity, liveability and prosperity of Parramatta and western Sydney. Its staff and Advisory Board have contributed to the recently published Culture and Our City A Cultural Discussion Paper for Parramatta s CBD and will continue to provide input to Parramatta s cultural planning for the future. Page 6